[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5839-5840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2528]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate a Cultural Item: University of 
Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology, Denver, 
CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum 
of Anthropology, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, 
has determined that a cultural item meets the definition of sacred 
object and repatriation to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if 
no additional claimants come forward. Representatives of any Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the item 
may contact the University of Denver Department of Anthropology and 
Museum of Anthropology.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural item should contact the 
University of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of 
Anthropology at the address below by March 7, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Anne Coats Amati, NAGPRA Coordinator/Registrar, University 
of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology, 2000 E 
Asbury, Sturm 146, Denver, CO 80208, telephone (303) 871-2687.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate a cultural item in the 
possession of the University of Denver Department of Anthropology and 
Museum of Anthropology (DUMA), that meets the definition of sacred 
object under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American cultural item. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    Between 1951 and 1952, a lidded basket from the collection of Mrs. 
Charles S. Sprague was accessioned into DUMA. The finely woven, coiled 
lidded basket (1641 A-B) features a red-brown design on both the bowl 
and the lid. The Pine Tree design identifies the item as a ceremonial 
basket used in the ``Spring Ceremony''. Baskets such as this one were 
used for the storage of sacred items, shell money, beads and other 
treasured items. Ceremonial baskets were sometimes left at gravesites 
with special offerings for the deceased individual's safe passage into 
the Spirit World.
    In consultation with representatives from the Santa Rosa Indian 
Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California (Tachi Yokut Tribe) 
and the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California, this basket is 
determined to be a sacred object.

Determinations Made by the University of Denver Department of 
Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology

    Officials of the DUMA have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the cultural item 
described above is a specific ceremonial object needed by traditional 
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native American religions by their present-day adherents.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group

[[Page 5840]]

identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred object and 
the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California 
(Tachi Yokut Tribe) and the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred object should contact Anne 
Coats Amati, University of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum 
of Anthropology, 2000 E Asbury Ave, Sturm 146, Denver, CO 80208, 
telephone (303) 871-2687, before March 7, 2012. Repatriation of the 
sacred object to the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa 
Rancheria, California (Tachi Yokut Tribe) and the Ione Band of Miwok 
Indians of California may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The University of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of 
Anthropology is responsible for notifying the Berry Creek Rancheria of 
Maidu Indians of California; Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of 
California; California Valley Miwok Tribe, California; Cedarville 
Rancheria, California; Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad 
Rancheria, California; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of 
California; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; 
Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, California; Fort McDermitt 
Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, 
Nevada and Oregon; Greenville Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; 
Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk 
Indians of California; Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, 
California; Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Paiute-
Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada; Pyramid 
Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada; Reno-Sparks 
Indian Colony, Nevada; Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Santa 
Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California (Tachi 
Yokut Tribe); Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California; 
Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada; 
Susanville Indian Rancheria, California; Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk 
Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of California; United Auburn Indian 
Community of the Auburn Rancheria of California; Walker River Paiute 
Tribe of the Walker River Reservation, Nevada; Winnemucca Indian Colony 
of Nevada; and the Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony & 
Campbell Ranch, Nevada that this notice has been published.

    Dated: January 31, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-2528 Filed 2-3-12; 8:45 am]
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